(670 The Score) After making key investments in their secondary in recent years, the Bears believed their defensive backfield was set with stability for the coming years. One play challenged that belief.
The Commanders' last-second game-winning Hail Mary touchdown in a stunning win over the Bears on Oct. 27 was a disastrous moment for 24-year-old Chicago cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, who was gesturing toward fans instead of focusing on the line of scrimmage as Washington prepared to snap the ball on the final play. Stevenson then rallied to the scrum of bodies late and deflected the football into the hands of receiver Noah Brown for the game-deciding touchdown.
That marked the start of the Bears' season-defining 10-game losing streak and clouded Stevenson's future. This offseason will allow the Bears to assess their secondary as a whole and explore what Stevenson’s future holds.
Editor's note: This is the latest installment of our Bears offseason outlook series. You can read the previous breakdowns by clicking the links below.
Quarterback
Running back
Wide receiver
Tight end
Offensive line
Defensive line
Linebacker
Who’s back: Cornerback Jaylon Johnson (26), cornerback Kyler Gordon (26), cornerback Tyrique Stevenson (25), cornerback Terell Smith (26), safety Kevin Byard (32), safety Jaquan Brisker (26), safety Jonathan Owens (30), safety Elijah Hicks (26) and safety Alex Cook (26).
Free agents: Cornerback Josh Blackwell (25), safety Adrian Colbert (31), safety Tarvarius Moore (28), cornerback Ameer Speed (25) and cornerback Jaylon Jones (27).
The Bears return their starting core from 2024 in the secondary. The group is led by Johnson, who earned Pro Bowl honors for a second straight season. Johnson had in a pair of interceptions in 2024 while remaining one of the NFL's best cover cornerbacks as he played the first season of a four-year, $76-million contract.
Opposite of Johnson, the Bears have struggled to solidify the cornerback position. Their hope was Stevenson would take a significant jump last season, but he instead regressed and was relegated to a rotational role with Terell Smith.
Stevenson played at a high level as a rookie in 2023, hauling in four interceptions. At that point, he seemed set to move forward as one of the Bears’ starting cornerbacks. The team certainly hasn’t given up on him yet, but new head coach Ben Johnson and his staff must assess whether Stevenson deserves their investment.
At safety, the Bears have a concerning injury matter with three-year starter Jaquan Brisker, who was limited to just five games in 2024 due to a concussion. He suffered the head injury in early October and didn't return to game action after that. It was Brisker’s third known concussion in the NFL.
Brisker has been medically cleared from the concussion and is ready to step back in. But for his own long-term health, he needs to find a way to reduce his risk on the field. As for the Bears, they need to be aware of Brisker’s injury risk and add better depth at safety.
Given Brisker’s injuries and Byard playing his age-32 season, the Bears should look at draft a safety in the later rounds.
What’s next?
The Bears could return the same starting group in 2025, but key new voices must be heard first.
New Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen and defensive backs coach Al Harris will assess the state of the secondary, including whether they believe in Stevenson as a starting cornerback in the NFL.
The Bears may also have a looming decision on Byard. Releasing him would save the team $7 million on its salary cap sheet, but he’s a vested captain and played well enough in 2024 to justify returning.
Gordon will be one of the Bears' top candidates to land a contract extension this offseason. He has proved himself as one of the game's premier nickelbacks and is worthy of a long-term deal.
When it comes to priority needs on this Bears roster, cornerback and safety are low on the list, but they should address their depth given the question marks they have at a couple starting positions.
Prediction: Stevenson has a bounce-back 2025 season
Stevenson has acknowledged and accepted his struggles of last season. In 2025, he'll make up for them.
Stevenson is a talented player who still deserves the Bears’ belief and investment. He'll prove why with a strong 2025 season.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.